Raising Men is a blog about Travel. Family. Food and Life. In South Africa
Holy rabbits on toast this is scary. Hello. This is my first ever blog post on my new Raising Men site. You know – when I switched over to WordPress I was like “Hey Hugh and Werner, can you guys just export my blog, import it here and give me the logins. Thanks.” HA HA HA HA. That was a long time ago.
I’ve switched to WordPress for several reasons and I’m gonna tell you why because when I was on blogspot and people moved to WordPress I was SCARED. Very much an Ice Age sloth “Hey where’s everyone going?” moment. I’ll quickly tell you what annoyed me about Blogspot.
I wanted to self-host. I want to add some SEO. It looks better. Y’all can comment without hassles. I need to become a WordPress PRO for work, so practicing over here is a heck-load better than practicing on my clients, right? That’s actually the main reason. Truth is, I was very happy with Blogger. It was lemon-squeezy.
So here is the new blog, a new look – graciously designed by Graeme Bettles Design. Built by Hugh and Werner, over at Joomper. Nicest guys EVER.
I also wanted to take a moment to chat about something. Raising Men has grown. When I started I was super in to babies (Ben was 6 weeks old) and all things nappies and teething. Now that the boys are older and proper little people… I don’t feel like I’m really a ‘Mommy Blog’ anymore. I love mommy blogs – some of my best friends are mommy bloggers. I’ve been turning down a lot of ‘mom’ things because I’m a mom 24/7 baby 365. I like to come to Raising Men and escape a bit – talk about my other interests. Food, travel, beauty, gadgets and some ‘dear diary’ moments on all things LIFE. I love writing about my boys, but they’re getting big now! Noah doesn’t like having pictures taken anymore. He’s also becoming a proper little boy where he gets quite proud, shy, has secrets and becoming a bit more private in general. With that, their online lives will become a bit more private too.
We also used to be cooped up at home a lot with a newborn and a 2 year old. Leave the house? HA HA HA! Go on holiday? Can I rather be induced again? But things have changed. The boys are pretty much enormous. They’re loud, bubbly, sometimes polite and extremely outdoorsy. The travel bug has bitten them right on their little bunny bums. I’m really in to business, health and running right now, Graeme loves all things design, outdoors and travel. Sometimes I just want to sit down and he’s like NO. We must cycle, fish, hike, run, kayak, explore and discover!
So things will mostly be the same around here, mostly different. I don’t really know how it’s going to work out just yet. I’ve added a cool travel section to the blog in the navigation bar. That way – if you’re super in to travel or if you’re coming to the Cape – you can scroll through the drop-down menus and look at some of the places we’ve been to (and haven’t been to) but more on that later. I still have to go tag a few posts and do LOTS of back-end stuff that I’m dragging my feet on. I ONLY WANT TO DO THE FUN STUFF! – general life philosophy.
So hello. This is the new vibe. Look around, tell me if you see something that is like so obviously wrong that I can’t even see it. This is all new and I’m not very good at the ‘being perfect’ thing. As we know. Thanks guys! Also, please let me know what you think of the new site. I’d really love that!
PS: LOOK HUGH I DID IT AND NOTHING BROKE!
Andrea | cleverbirdbanter.com
May 11, 2014 @ 18:24:32
WELL DONE – I love it Tash! Beautifully clean, slick, easy to navigate and fresh! WP is the way forward. So excited for you, happy blogging x
Natasha Clark
May 11, 2014 @ 18:44:40
Thank clever bird!
Graeme
May 11, 2014 @ 18:33:29
Love it baby, proud of you. x
Natasha Clark
May 11, 2014 @ 18:44:24
Thumpety thump!
Chelsea Harvey
May 11, 2014 @ 18:38:45
It’s gorgeous! Love it!
Wish you all the best for the future
Chelsea x
Natasha Clark
May 11, 2014 @ 18:44:07
Thanks so much Chelsea! x
NickiD
May 11, 2014 @ 19:05:26
Well done, gorgeous girl! I think that you have made such a good move! The new site is slick, clean, sexy and smart. Can’t wait to read all about what you get up to this year and beyond! XXX
Natasha Clark
May 11, 2014 @ 19:07:46
Thanks Nicki! FINALLY! I can’t wait to play around and learn too. See you on Friiiiday!
Abby
May 11, 2014 @ 19:37:30
I think every blogger is a “mummy” blogger of sort because a blog is a baby and it grows. Sometimes one needs to grow or adapt with it (i.e WordPress) which can be daunting and at times bloody difficulty but exciting none the less. Good luck with the next chapter of this blog.
xoxo
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 07:05:07
I like the way you put that Abby! Thanks so much x
Keri
May 12, 2014 @ 04:04:09
Love it precious xxx Welcome to WordPress.
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 07:04:50
I’m like super serious and professional now.
TashMarais
May 12, 2014 @ 06:52:52
Copyright and everythang!!! Congratulations Missy! Looking forward to reading about all the new adventures x
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 07:04:19
Thanks Tash. Feel super grown up!
Rene
May 12, 2014 @ 07:29:11
Looking very good!!! And now I can finally comment on your blog without being anonymous.
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 07:35:31
Yay and I get it and everything. Thanks so much sweets!
Kathryn (Becoming you)
May 12, 2014 @ 07:45:16
Great new look Natasha!
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 07:46:44
Thanks so much Kathryn!
Chereen
May 12, 2014 @ 08:31:29
Yay – I love it! Welcome to WordPress… see? Not as daunting as it seems, right? Love the new design – very sex-ay! As a relatively new mommy to an almost 16 month old, I look forward to living vicariously through you and your beautiful family!
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 09:32:41
Haha – thanks Chereen! x
Taryn van Rensburg
May 12, 2014 @ 09:00:34
First time I’ve been to your site. Having a household FULL of boys (5 to be precise which includes the overgrown boy aka husband)…, was intrigued to browse around.
But, hate to be the bearer of blogger bad news, but the only page I could access was this (obviously)… All the other posts I clicked on came back with a “404 Error”.
Bummer.
Thought I’d let you know, incase it’s your site and not my phone that’s the problem
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 09:32:20
Hi Taryn,
Eek! We’re in the process of sorting out the kinks. Come back tomorrow or later this afternoon and it will all be in running order! Sorry about that x
Kate (FergliciousKate)
May 12, 2014 @ 09:25:08
I’m loving your new design and really looking forward to seeing what you post
This probably doesn’t need to be said but do keep up the posts about your gorgeous bunnies! Would love to know how the homing of your recent babies went too!
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 09:31:08
Thanks Kate. Will do! xx
Tam
May 12, 2014 @ 09:44:14
Lovely, slick new look! And WordPress is the best – you won’t regret the move
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 10:44:47
I am loving it!!
femmegypsy
May 12, 2014 @ 09:47:42
Love the new look! And YAAAAAAAAAAAY for a better commenting system Blogspot must have the worst commenting system in history…
Excited for the growing blog and adventures X
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 10:44:35
Yaaaay!
Sarah
May 12, 2014 @ 13:53:31
Fab new site! WordPress is the way to go and agree with femmegypsy that the comment system is the worst in blogspot. Now I can comment from my phone yay! We all go through phases in life – I’m still very much on baby phase – but now you are in a nice time in life where the boys are at the age where you can explore and make the most of it before school really kicks in.
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 13:58:12
I am VERY scared of when school kicks in. Another 1.5 years to go. Eeek! Thanks Sarah x
Heather
May 12, 2014 @ 14:39:43
I think as time goes on our blogs do evolve. I changed from an infertility blog to a mom blog. Will see what happens next. Nice new look.
PS WordPress rocks. Lots of nice plugins.
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 15:52:20
Congrats on being a mom Heather!
Belinda Mountain
May 12, 2014 @ 15:00:44
Such a lovely new look – you must be chuffed! So fresh and pretty. x
Natasha Clark
May 12, 2014 @ 15:51:58
Really loving the new space – thanks Belinda!